Which tablets are more effective against colds and flu - list of popular drugs

Prevention of colds

It is generally accepted that colds are unpleasant, but “harmless” attributes of cold weather, and malaise caused by viruses, occurring 1-2 times a year, is the norm. However, every malfunction in the body’s functioning leaves its own negative mark, therefore, in the case of seasonal diseases, one should adhere to the golden rule: A DISEASE IS EASIER TO PREVENT THAN TO TREAT.

Interesting Facts

• 80% of infectious diseases (and flu and colds belong specifically to this group) are transmitted through hands.
• Scientists found the maximum accumulation of viruses on banknotes, computer mice and keyboards, transport handrails and mobile phones.
• Antibiotics do not act on viruses, so taking them as treatment or prevention is useless.

Folk remedies against colds

DRUG TREATMENT CAN ONLY BE PRESCRIBED BY A DOCTOR, and traditional medicine will help support the body. The reliability of the funds that we will discuss below has been tested by time.

Warm (not hot!) drink. Any warm drink, even plain water, has a positive effect on the condition of the mucous membrane, and various additives have their own specific effect. Tannin and caffeine contained in tea dilate blood vessels and activate sweating. Honey contains many enzymes that normalize metabolism. Lemon is a natural antiseptic. Raspberries cause profuse sweating and reduce fever. Linden and viburnum soften cough. Ginger destroys pathogenic microorganisms. Rosehip contains many vitamins and is an excellent diuretic. Drinking plenty of fluids also stimulates active urination; products of intoxication caused by viruses are eliminated from the body along with urine.

Mulled wine. We have already written about the benefits of red wine above, but you can also enhance its effect. To do this, add spices (cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla), 3 tablespoons of honey, lemon juice, apple to 1 liter of wine. Boil the resulting mixture and let it brew for 15-20 minutes. The drink has an excellent warming effect (no wonder it is recommended to drink it in the cold) and stimulates blood circulation.

Aloe will help get rid of cough. For the product, you need to mix the crushed plant and honey in a 1:1 ratio, take 3 times a day.

For rinsing and steam inhalation, a mixture of leaves and flowers of mint, chamomile, Rhodiola rosea, sage, and eucalyptus .

High temperatures are well reduced by decoctions of lingonberry (1 tablespoon per glass of boiling water), willow (1 teaspoon per glass), linden blossom, cranberry juice .

All of the above remedies will help you stay healthy even during an epidemic, but you should remember that any body needs major prevention and recovery. The best option is an annual holiday in a sanatorium.

Download the table of available places in sanatoriums for 2020

Prevention of influenza and ARVI with folk remedies for adults and children

Traditional medicine recipes can be useful in the fight for health during cold and flu season. Available natural ingredients in a certain combination can reliably protect adults and children from colds and viral diseases.

Recipe No. 1: Rosehip drink with honey. Ingredients:

• rose hips (5 tbsp)
• water (1 liter)
• honey (2 tbsp)

Preparation:

1. Crush dry rose hips
2. Place the berries in a saucepan and cover them with cold water
3. Place the pan on the fire and bring to a boil
4. Boil for 10 – 12 minutes over low heat
5. Remove the pan from the heat, cover with a lid, wrap and leave for 8 - 10 hours
6. Strain through cheesecloth or sieve
7. Drink the drink throughout the day, every 3–4 hours, 1 glass, adding honey to taste

Recipe No. 2: Drink with rose hips, raspberry and black currant leaves.

Ingredients:

• Rose hips (1 tbsp)
• Crushed raspberry leaves (1 tbsp)
• Chopped blackcurrant leaves (1 tbsp)
• Water (1.5 tbsp.)
• Sugar to taste

Preparation:

1. Place the leaves and berries in a saucepan and cover with water
2. Place the pan on the fire
3. Bring to a boil, simmer for 10 minutes over low heat
4. Remove the pan from the heat, cover with a lid, and leave to cool completely.
5. Strain
6. Add sugar
7. Drink half a glass twice a day

Rosehip drink for the prevention of colds

Recipe No. 3: Linden drink with viburnum fruits and raspberries.

Ingredients:

• Linden blossom (1 tbsp.)
• Raspberries (1 tbsp)
• Viburnum fruits (1 tbsp)
• Water (2 tbsp.)
• Natural honey or sugar to taste

Preparation:

1. Place ingredients in a saucepan and add boiling water
2. Place on low heat for 10 - 12 minutes
3. Cool covered
4. Strain
5. Add sugar or honey to taste
6. Take 0.5 cups twice a day

Recipe No. 4: Ginger tea with honey and lemon

Ingredients:

• Ginger root
• Lemon
• Honey
• Boiling water

Preparation:

1. Grind the ginger root and place it in a cup
2. Pour boiling water over
3. Add lemon and honey to taste
4. Drink ginger tea 2-3 times a day

Ginger tea for the prevention of ARVI and influenza

IMPORTANT: In addition to vitamin drinks, peeled onions and garlic are used to prevent viral diseases. They can be laid out in the living room or workplace and eaten.

PREVENTION OF FLU AND COLDS

Pharmacy arsenals are increasingly replenished with antiviral and anti-influenza medications, but the question is “how to protect yourself and your family from seasonal epidemics and colds?” For many it still remains open. Prevention of influenza and colds is a set of personal hygiene measures and medications. How can you not get lost in the modern variety of medications and choose what you need? Let's try to answer this question.

The best effective remedy for adults and children for the prevention of influenza, colds and ARVI

Those who are looking for the best remedy for the prevention of influenza, colds and ARVI will be disappointed to learn that there is no universal drug. Each person’s body is individual, therefore, the same preventive remedy can become a “lifesaver” for some, but for others it can be absolutely useless.

To strengthen the body's defenses, both an adult and a child, you can use a drug based on interferon . Nasal drops, suppositories, tablets or inhalations with interferon are especially effective in the first day of illness and for preventing illness.

Viferon for the treatment and prevention of influenza and ARVI

Medicines to prevent colds

The key to our health is clean hands, sports, proper nutrition, hardening, and giving up bad habits. Five components that help strengthen the immune system and avoid resorting to pharmaceutical drugs. But often this is not enough. Due to a busy schedule, it is not always possible to include sports or hardening in your schedule. In the hustle and bustle of work, it’s not always possible to eat on time and eat right. And here medications will come to our aid.

Currently, the pharmaceutical market is represented by a large assortment of both domestic and foreign drugs. To decide on the choice of medication, it is best to consult a doctor who will prescribe you a preventive course taking into account your chronic diseases, age and type of activity. Since many drugs have contraindications and are not permissible when working with high concentrations.

To prevent influenza and ARVI, use:

• Antiviral drugs. They are already fighting the virus directly. If there has been contact with an infected person or a period of epidemic has begun, then it is better to be careful and start a course of treatment in advance (Kagocel, Cycloferon, Grippferon, Arbidol, Amiksin, Remantadine, Ingavirin, etc.). Available in the form of capsules or tablets.
• Antibiotics. If symptoms characteristic of a bacterial infection appear (yellow-green mucus from the nose, chest cough, high fever, etc.), you must consult a doctor. In combination with the prescribed course of antibiotics, inhalations and nasal drops (Isofra, Polydex, etc.) would be appropriate.
• Homeopathic medicines. Unlike chemotherapy drugs, they are made from substances of animal, mineral or plant origin. Not all scientists and doctors believe in the ability of such drugs to cure a person from a disease. However, in many countries around the world this type of treatment has become very popular. Russia today is not one of them. However, our pharmacies sell homeopathic medicines. They can be purchased without a prescription. The most popular of them is Oscillococcinum.
• Preparations for stimulating local immunity. During epidemics, the nasopharynx, upper respiratory tract, and mucous membranes of the respiratory organs are most often affected. In order for them to more actively fight or be able to resist the disease, it is necessary to use the necessary drugs as prophylaxis (Broncho-munal, Derinat, Ribomunil, etc.).
• Phytotherapeutic immunomodulators. These drugs are developed on a plant basis. They are harmless and have no contraindications, except for individual intolerance to the components contained in the plant (Ultaravit, Phytoimmunal, etc.).
• Vitamin complexes. Periods of epidemics often occur at a time when the body is weakened from vitamin deficiency (autumn-spring). To restore the body and strengthen the immune system, it will be useful to take a course of vitamins (Complivit, Revit, Elevit, etc.).
• Aromatherapy. This is perhaps the most pleasant type of protection. Various oil sprays (based on extracts of fir, eucalyptus, cloves, mint, etc.) have a beneficial effect on the immune system and fight viruses.
• Barrier means of protection. This is the name for the means that represent a barrier between humans and the virus. These include oxolinic ointment (and all drugs that act in a similar way) and a medical bandage.

Of all the possible types of prevention of influenza and colds, choose (on your own or consult a doctor) the most suitable one, or combine complex therapy.

Classification of drugs

Modern means for the prevention of influenza and ARVI (colds) are divided as follows:

• means of specific prevention (vaccines to prevent influenza);
• drugs of nonspecific action, prevent the development of not only influenza, but also acute respiratory viral infections (colds);
• medications with antiviral effect;
• interferon preparations (human and recombinant);
• inducers of endogenous (own) interferon;
• plant adaptogens.

Each of the above-described drug groups has both advantages and disadvantages. There are age restrictions. Whatever medications are chosen, seasonal prevention of influenza and ARVI should begin no later than October, in order to be “in full combat readiness” by the beginning of the cold period of the year.

Vaccines to prevent influenza

Modern medicine offers two types of vaccines for use: split vaccines (split vaccines) and subunit vaccines. They differ in internal structure. Split vaccines contain all the proteins of the influenza virus, so they can cause more adverse reactions.

3rd generation products (subunit vaccines) contain only surface antigens of the influenza virus (neuraminidase and hemagglutinin), which are responsible for the synthesis of specific anti-influenza antibodies. The following types of influenza vaccines can be purchased in pharmacies:

• "Vaxigrip";
• "Influvac";
• "Fluarix"
• "Grippol" and many others.

For flu vaccination to be truly effective, you must:

• Before choosing a vaccine, consult a doctor;
• inject the vaccine in mid-October - early November;
• on the day of vaccination, the person must be absolutely healthy (without signs of acute respiratory viral infection).

Vaccination is recommended for all persons who, for various reasons, come into contact with a large number of people (teachers, teachers, public transport drivers, store clerks), as well as those who have been diagnosed with chronic diseases of various organ systems (that is, complications are most likely). It is also recommended to vaccinate children over 6 months of age if they attend organized groups (school, nursery).

Modern specific drugs (vaccines) are effective only for preventing influenza, but do not have any effect on other viruses. In addition, the protective titer of anti-influenza antibodies lasts no more than 1 year, that is, you need to inject this drug every year.

Antiviral drugs

These drugs differ in one common property: they have a direct effect on the influenza virus itself (to a lesser extent, ARVI), destroying it and preventing infection of other, still healthy cells of the human respiratory tract. These include:

• Amantadine;
• Remantadine;
• Oseltamivir;
• Zanamivir.

Drugs with a direct antiviral effect are not always well tolerated, and some people report nausea and mild weakness. On the other hand, these phenomena are temporary and pass quickly, and their effectiveness in terms of protection against acute respiratory viral infections and influenza is undoubted.

Medicines with a direct antiviral effect are small tablets for internal use. Each remedy has its own individual prevention scheme.

Interferon-based drugs

It is a protein compound called “interferon” that is the main protector of the human body from any viruses, in particular the causative agents of influenza and colds. When the virus penetrates the tissues, already in the first hours of the disease, intensive synthesis of interferon begins, which ultimately makes it possible to successfully cope with the viruses; the formation of specific antibodies begins somewhat later.

The introduction of interferon from the outside helps make protection against viruses faster and more reliable, since some of them can inhibit the synthesis of interferon in the human body.

Interferon-based products are represented by human interferon made from donor blood; various variants of recombinant interferons, which are manufactured using genetic engineering methods (“Laferobion”, “Intron” and others).

Most interferons come in the form of injections, but there are also tablets and nasal sprays.
A pharmacist at a pharmacy will help you choose the most appropriate release form and price option for interferon. It must be remembered that interferon can be used for a long time - for several weeks - to create reliable antiviral protection. An important advantage of any interferon is that it is suitable for the prevention of influenza and colds, that is, it acts equally effectively against all respiratory viruses. Unfortunately, all interferons can cause a number of side effects, which makes their regular use difficult.

Inducers of endogenous interferon

These drugs are quite effective in preventing all seasonal respiratory infections, but at the same time they are quite safe. Their effect is that they stimulate the cells of the immune system, which are responsible for the synthesis of interferon. Its interferon cannot cause side effects, and it quickly destroys any viruses (both flu and colds).

The following medications are deservedly popular:

• "Polyoxidonium";
• "Tiloron";
• "Kagocel";
• "Amiksin";
• "Cycloferon".

An important advantage of this product is that it is basically tablets. This means that you can take a course of medication that increases the strength of the antiviral immune response without thinking about the discomfort of injections and the need to find someone who knows how to give an injection.

Plant adaptogens

These drugs, as the name suggests, are made from various natural ingredients. They have the property of stimulating a nonspecific immune response, and therefore the degree of antiviral protection of the human body. These can be tablets or tinctures.

Most of the herbal adaptogens do not have serious age restrictions: they are approved for use even in preschool children. The most widely used medications are:

• Echinacea purpurea;
• Eleutherococcus;
• Schisandra chinensis;
• ginseng.

The peculiarity of this group of products is the need for long-term (weeks) use, only then can a visible result be expected. Regularly taking care of your health will help prevent flu and colds in a timely manner.

Influenza vaccination

These days, vaccination has become a topic of serious debate. What is it for and is it needed? Are we doing worse or better by introducing a virus into the blood? We will argue, as they say, the old fashioned way. This means that another good old way to save yourself from the flu is to get vaccinated on time.

What is vaccination and who should get it? Vaccination is the introduction of 2-3 current strains of the virus into the human blood (new vaccines are produced every year, according to forecasts of the World Health Organization). The immune system responds by producing antibodies. This means that during an epidemic there is a high probability of not getting sick with this strain of the virus or of suffering a mild form of the disease.

According to the National Vaccination Calendar, flu vaccinations are subject to:

• employees of educational and medical institutions, transport workers, etc.
• students
• pupils
• children from 6 months
• adults over 60 years old

Preventing colds and flu during pregnancy

During pregnancy, every woman begins to be more careful about her health. After all, the successful development of a child is directly related to the health of the mother. What preventive measures are acceptable for a pregnant woman? We exclude all chemotherapy drugs, as they can affect the child and his development. So, follow a few important rules:

1. Avoid appearing in crowded places
2. In public transport, use all possible barrier protective equipment: wear a bandage, smear oxolinic ointment on your nose, drip herbal oil on your scarf or collar (Breathe, etc.)
3. Take multivitamins from the first for pregnancy (you can start earlier)
4. Eat more fruits and berries
5. Taking homeopathic medicines is not excluded
6. Arrange aromatherapy more often
7. Don't forget about personal hygiene rules

If you still fail to protect yourself, do not self-medicate! Go to a doctor who will find out what the origin of the disease is and prescribe a course of treatment in accordance with your situation.

Preventing colds and flu in infants

When a baby is born, the mother shares with him everything she has, including immunity. It is believed that the baby is protected by maternal immunity for the first six months of life. At the 7th month of life, his own immune system begins to actively form.

The best and practically the only way to prevent ARVI for a baby is breastfeeding. All vitamins and nutrients reach the baby through mother's milk. Therefore, to ensure prevention for your baby, just watch your lifestyle and diet. Continue to take vitamins, eat a nutritious and balanced diet, walk in the fresh air more often and worry less. The child feels the slightest changes in the physical and psychological state of the mother. An infant and a mother are two communicating vessels, which means that the healthier the mother, the healthier the baby.

So, what needs to be done to prevent influenza and ARVI? In order to achieve the desired result, you must try to adhere to personal hygiene measures and choose for yourself an individual path of drug protection, if necessary.

Cold prevention

Means for preventing colds are not only medications or vitamin complexes, but also a lifestyle in general: proper nutrition, hardening, strengthening the immune system. What to do to fully meet the season of cough and runny nose?

Colds and ARVI: what is the difference

In ordinary life, we call a cold any “autumn” ailment - fever, cough and runny nose, sore throat, etc. But diseases under the general name hide different ones, with different natures.

Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI): influenza, parainfluenza, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, etc. ARVIs are caused by viruses, you won’t get the flu just because your feet got wet and were frozen in a draft. But hypothermia is a powerful provoking factor.

When are the tablets effective?

Tablets for colds and flu are drugs of combined or targeted action .

In the second case, it becomes necessary to take several types of tablets from different groups at the same time, which will fight the main and associated pathogens, as well as suppress symptoms and stimulate the activity of the immune system to speed up recovery.

It is necessary to take tablets if symptoms intensify, such as:

• aches and pains in the joints;
• headache and sore throat;
• weakness that does not allow you to spend much time on your feet;
• pain and severe irritation in the throat;
• worsening cough;
• severe nasal congestion;
• temperature above 38 degrees.

Stay up to date! The tablets have the greatest effect if you start taking them within the first 2-3 days.

Subsequently, in the absence of treatment, the disease develops so much that complex therapy with the use of potent drugs is required.